B2 League Round 50 (Regular Season): Toyama G. edge Shizuoka by two points

The Regular Season in B2 League is slowly approaching the end. But there may be still some important changes in the final standings in the last 10 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Third-ranked Shizuoka (29-22) made lots of trouble for second ranked Grouses (34-17) in Toyama on Saturday. Grouses managed to secure only two-point victory 89-87. However their fans expected easier game. Toyama G. made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. They also forced 19 Shizuoka turnovers. Strangely Shizuoka outrebounded Toyama G. 49-32 including a 32-21 advantage in defensive rebounds. Toyama G. looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. 24 personal fouls committed by Shizuoka helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was American center Mitchell Watt (208-1989, college: Buffalo, agency: Octagon Europe) who scored 19 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. The other American import forward Thomas Kennedy (201-1987, college: Detroit) chipped in 16 points and 5 rebounds. American forward John Harrar (205-1999, college: Penn State) produced a double-double by scoring 10 points and 14 rebounds for the guests. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Grouses have an impressive six-game winning streak. Toyama G. maintains second position with 34-17 record behind leader Chiba. Shizuoka at the other side keeps the third place with 22 games lost. Toyama G. are again looking forward to face Shizuoka (#3) at home in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Shizuoka will have a break next round.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Fukuoka. First ranked Rizing faced 4th ranked Blowinds. Host Rizing (35-16) defeated guests from Fukui (28-23) 89-80. American center Joshua Smith (210-1992, college: Georgetown) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 11 rebounds. Andrew Randall contributed with 23 points and 9 rebounds (was perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line !!!) for the winners. American forward Perry Ellis (203-1993, college: Kansas) replied with 23 points and 7 rebounds for Fukui B.Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Fukuoka R. maintains first position with 35-16 record. Fukui B. lost fourth consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the fourth place with 23 games lost. Fukuoka R. will play against Fukui B. (#4) at home in the next round. Fukui B. will have a break next round.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Nagano. First ranked Chiba faced 3rd ranked Brave Warriors. Guests from Chiba (48-3) defeated host Brave Warriors (32-19) 89-82. Brandon Ashley had a double-double by scoring 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners. Chiba's coach used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. Perrin Buford responded with 25 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals. Chiba have an impressive nine-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 48-3 record. Loser Brave Warriors keeps the third place with 19 games lost. Chiba will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Shinshu will play again against the league's leader Chiba and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Rest of the games of round 50 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Fukushima was defeated by Kobe S. in Hyogo 79-69. Kumamoto V. smashed Ehime at home 105-50. Yamagata lost to Bambitious on the opponent's court 60-72.



Fukuoka R. - Fukui B. 89-80

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Fukuoka. First ranked Rizing faced 4th ranked Blowinds. Host Rizing (35-16) defeated guests from Fukui (28-23) 89-80. Fukuoka R. outrebounded Fukui B. 37-24 including 25 on the defensive glass. American center Joshua Smith (210-1992, college: Georgetown) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 23 points and 11 rebounds. The other American import forward Andrew Randall (198-1990, college: Temple) contributed with 23 points and 9 rebounds (was perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line !!!) for the winners. American forward Perry Ellis (203-1993, college: Kansas) replied with 23 points and 7 rebounds and Keigo Kimura (188-2000, college: St.Joseph, CT, agency: Schafer Sports) added 19 points in the effort for Fukui B.Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Fukuoka R. maintains first position with 35-16 record. Fukui B. lost fourth consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the fourth place with 23 games lost. Fukuoka R. will play against Fukui B. (#4) at home in the next round. Fukui B. will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Fukui B.: P.Ellis 23+7reb+1ast, K.Kimura 19+3reb, R.Kelly 13+3reb+1ast, N.Fujisawa 7+2reb+2ast, Y.Nishino 6+3reb+3ast, J.Mitsuda 5
Fukuoka R.: J.Smith 23+11reb+3ast, A.Randall 23+9reb+2ast, T.Nakamura 11+1reb+2ast, T.Nishikawa 10+1reb+3ast, K.Aita 9+7reb+1ast, I.Brown 7+5reb+3ast

Kobe S. - Fukushima 79-69

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 7th ranked Firebonds' (12-39) road loss to sixth ranked Storks (20-31) 69-79 on Saturday. Kobe S. dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Firebonds's 30. Kobe S. outrebounded Fukushima 37-24 including 27 on the defensive glass. American guard Chaundee Brown Jr (195-1998, college: Michigan) scored 25 points (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) to lead the charge for the winners and the other American import center Isaac Butts (208-1989, college: App State) chipped in 7 points and 15 rebounds during the contest. Storks' coach Predrag Krunic used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. American-Hungarian forward Mikael Hopkins (206-1993, college: Georgetown) responded with 24 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and Nigerian-American power forward Morris Udeze (206-1999, college: N.Mexico, agency: Pensack Sports) scored 22 points and 5 rebounds. Storks have an impressive five-game winning streak. Kobe S. maintains sixth position with 20-31 record. Fukushima lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the seventh place with 39 games lost. Kobe S. will meet at home Fukushima (#7) in the next round. Fukushima will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Fukushima: M.Hopkins 24+9reb+4ast, M.Udeze 22+5reb+2ast, R.Tawatari 11+2reb+2ast, T.Iju 7+3reb+2ast, S.Sato 3+1reb+1ast, K.Kasai 2+1reb+4ast
Kobe S.: C.Brown Jr. 25+4reb+3ast, S.Kawashima 9+2reb, N.Dohara 7+1reb, I.Butts 7+15reb+3ast, R.Kaneda 6+1reb+4ast, R.Nakanishi 5+2reb+1ast

Kumamoto V. - Ehime OV 105-50

No shocking result in a game in Kumamoto where fifth ranked Volters (23-28) smashed 7th ranked Orange Vikings (5-46) 105-50 on Saturday. Kumamoto V. dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Orange Vikings's 24 and made 18-of-23 free shots (78.3 percent) during the game. Kumamoto V. outrebounded Ehime 51-20 including a 40-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. Kumamoto V. looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists. American forward Mitch Lightfoot (203-1997, college: Kansas, agency: Slash Sports) had a double-double by scoring 18 points and 14 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and guard Shota Yamamoto (188-1999) chipped in 21 points and 5 rebounds during the contest. Four Volters players scored in double figures. American forward Terrance King (198-1990, college: ESU, agency: Diamond Sports) responded with 14 points and 7 rebounds and point guard Yugo Okuda (176-1999) scored 7 points and 7 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Volters have a solid three-game winning streak. Kumamoto V. moved-up to fourth place. Loser Orange Vikings keeps the seventh position with 46 games lost. Kumamoto V. will meet at home Ehime (#7) in the next round. Ehime will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Ehime OV: T.King 14+7reb, N.Gadson 8+2reb, Y.Okuda 7+4reb+7ast, R.Taira 6+1reb+1ast, R.Takeuchi 6+2reb+1ast, T.Furuno 6+2reb+5ast
Kumamoto V.: S.Yamamoto 21+5reb+1ast, M.Lightfoot 18+14reb+2ast, T.Lamb 15+1reb, A.Yamada 11+3ast, J.McLean 10+13reb+3ast, G.Echenique 9+3reb+4ast

Bambitious N. - Yamagata 72-60

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 6th ranked Wyverns' (19-32) road loss to fifth ranked Bambitious (22-29) 60-72 on Saturday. Bambitious looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. The game was dominated by American players. Shaquille Hines (201-1993, college: UTRGV) scored 17 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists to lead the charge for the winners and power forward Cameron Jackson (203-1996, college: Wofford) chipped in 17 points and 8 rebounds during the contest. Four Bambitious N. players scored in double figures. James Bell (196-1992, college: Villanova, agency: Slash Sports) responded with 23 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists and TJ Holyfield (203-1995, college: Texas Tech) scored 14 points and 6 rebounds. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Bambitious maintains fifth position with 22-29 record which they share with defeated Yamagata. Loser Wyverns dropped to the fifth place with 32 games lost. Bambitious will meet at home Yamagata (#5) in the next round. Yamagata will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Yamagata: J.Bell 23+7reb+5ast, T.Holyfield 14+6reb+3ast, R.Saito 7+3reb, K.Okajima 6+1reb+2ast, S.Murakami 5+1ast, Y.Nakajima 3+1reb
Bambitious N.: S.Hines 17+6reb+8ast, C.Jackson 17+8reb+3ast, S.Zimmerman 11+15reb+1ast, E.Hayashi 10+5reb, R.Kobayashi 6+4ast, E.Nakatani 6+3reb+1ast

Shinshu BW - Chiba 82-89

An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Nagano. First ranked Chiba faced 3rd ranked Brave Warriors. Guests from Chiba (48-3) defeated host Brave Warriors (32-19) 89-82. Chiba looked well-organized offensively handing out 28 assists. American Brandon Ashley (206-1994, college: Arizona) had a double-double by scoring 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the charge for the winners and Reo Maeda (191-1997, agency: Schafer Sports) chipped in 13 points and 7 assists during the contest. Four Chiba players scored in double figures. Chiba's coach used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. American forward Perrin Buford (198-1994, college: MTSU, agency: Pensack Sports) responded with 25 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 steals and his fellow American import guard Terrance Woodbury (203-1987, college: Georgia) scored 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Chiba have an impressive nine-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 48-3 record. Loser Brave Warriors keeps the third place with 19 games lost. Chiba will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Shinshu will play again against the league's leader Chiba and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Shinshu BW: P.Buford 25+8reb+4ast, T.Woodbury 21+5reb+4ast, K.Ishikawa 18+4reb+5ast, K.Mitsui 6+3reb+1ast, H.Watanabe 6+5reb+2ast, E.Kojima-Donley 2+3reb
Chiba: B.Ashley 22+10reb+2ast, R.Maeda 13+2reb+7ast, T.Kida 12+4reb, D.Pardon 11+7reb+2ast, T.Porter 9+3reb, K.Kurokawa 6+2reb+7ast

Toyama G. - Shizuoka 89-87

Third-ranked Shizuoka (29-22) made lots of trouble for second ranked Grouses (34-17) in Toyama on Saturday. Grouses managed to secure only two-point victory 89-87. However their fans expected easier game. Toyama G. made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. They also forced 19 Shizuoka turnovers. Strangely Shizuoka outrebounded Toyama G. 49-32 including a 32-21 advantage in defensive rebounds. Toyama G. looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. 24 personal fouls committed by Shizuoka helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was American center Mitchell Watt (208-1989, college: Buffalo, agency: Octagon Europe) who scored 19 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. The other American import forward Thomas Kennedy (201-1987, college: Detroit) chipped in 16 points and 5 rebounds. American forward John Harrar (205-1999, college: Penn State) produced a double-double by scoring 10 points and 14 rebounds and Australian center Angus Brandt (208-1989, college: Oregon St.) added 14 points and 9 rebounds respectively for the guests. Five Toyama G. and four Shizuoka players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Grouses have an impressive six-game winning streak. Toyama G. maintains second position with 34-17 record behind leader Chiba. Shizuoka at the other side keeps the third place with 22 games lost. Toyama G. are again looking forward to face Shizuoka (#3) at home in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Shizuoka will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Shizuoka: F.Delany 18+4reb+2ast, Y.Okada 15+1reb+4ast, A.Brandt 14+9reb+2ast, J.Harrar 10+14reb+3ast, T.Takumi 9+6reb, M.Taylor-Barone 8+5reb+2ast
Toyama G.: M.Watt 19+9reb+5ast, T.Kennedy 16+5reb+2ast, E.Phelps 12+5reb+2ast, Y.Nozaki 12, A.White 11+7reb+3ast, S.Ueda 6+1reb